The US, Israel and the Arab World (711 hits)
Category: PoliticsRating: 1 on 10 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Judoka (View user info) at 2004-12-09 10:28:29 EST
In many circles it is fashionable to believe that the US is despised because they are a staunch supporter of Israel. In this article: http://www.benadorassociates.com/article/9792 suggests the opposite might be true. Personally, I had always believed that US support of Israel not Israeli support of the US drove the Arab worlds loathing of Israel. I have to admit the author of the above mentioned article makes a very strong case for his thesis.
I tend to skew to the right when it comes to matters of Israel's security, and most of the European belly aching annoys the hell out of me. So I am willing to believe this theory. What do you think? It doesn't matter if I agree with you or not, I still would like to hear some thoughtful responses. Believe it or not I respect the opinions of most of the people on this site.
User Reviews
Submitted by slowlyrotting (user info) at 2004-12-09 13:43:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for open forum
no matter the reason for muslim intolerance of israel, it's been thousands of years since it began and the u.s. (see: nelson), nevermind the rest of the world (see: milhouse), will not be able to put an end to the violence until one faction is completely wiped out.
as i lean towards judeo-christianity and never towards islam, i tend to side with israel. besides, look at a map of the middle-eastern world... you don't have to know anything about the feuding to see that muslims occupy like 95% of the area. if they feel so bad for the palestinians why don't they give up part of their own land?
after all, we gave france back to the french after we took it back from the nazis, didn't we? we liberated kuwait from saddam didn't we?
the best wisdom ever handed down to anyone is this: sometimes you have to walk away from a fight, even if you know you are right, and know you would win, simply to keep the peace. - that simple idea has kept me out of prison numerous times.
israel has no room to give away it's land, the rest of the region has plenty. i suggest they follow my advice. but that still won't quell the hatred and violence in the region.
Submitted by BillsSBChamps (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:58:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck the kikes.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2004-12-09 12:46:36 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
"European belly aching annoys the hell out of me."
Yes stupid european wimps who denounce human rights abuse. Enclosing a population behind 12 foot high walls with barbwire and bombing residential buildings and having tanks rolling down streets is like so normal, tee hee!
Submitted by Insanethemind (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:58:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
the most thoughtful response you are getting out of me is , dude the arab world has opposed israel virtually since issac and abrahams other son (ishmael?), i forget his name offhand
anyway thats the case i remember newsweek making a couple years ago and the way i remember the bible putting it when i last picked it up a few years before that
Submitted by Darwin (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:50:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I'm probably wrong here, but doesn't Egypt receive the 2nd most foreign (behind Isreal) aid from us?
Submitted by SAECULUM.AUREUM (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:39:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't believe anyone needs me to tell them that this is a complex issue, but I believe that it would be in the best interests' of all of us to take perspective on the subject in the most objective way possible.
He who has wisdom, look to that which is a faith of despair and ye will find the roots of all mans lies.
Submitted by cleanfornow (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:35:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Interesting perspective in the article, wrong IMHO, but interesting. To me it points out how hypocritical Muslims are, ignoring case after case where their bloody uprisings are squashed, yet loudly demanding the utter destruction of Israel because they "Oppress" the poor Palestinians.
The Basic problem in regards to Anti-Americanism is that Muslims want the whole world under Islamic law, they feel they have the right to kill and use terrorism to achieve this, and America isn't having any of it. Thus, the Muslims hate the US. Europeans fail to grasp this simple concept and see the US defending herself (and rest of the world) as an act of aggression.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2004-12-09 11:13:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Who cares?
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:48:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
While the article makes some good points, I feel like he doesn't pay sufficient attention to the influence that the United States wields. Whenever we make a move, for better or for worse, the international media tends not only to take note of it, but to pay intense attention to it. I'm sure everyone has read articles or even passing mentions of how even American movie stars - very few of whom have any actual influence over political actions - dominate news all over the world, particularly in Europe. In reference to this article, it seems not necessarily unfair, but incomplete to ignore the prominence on the world stage that America has. As a result of this influence, the allies and enemies of the US are carefully recorded and scrutinized, and in a turbulent area (regardless of whether or not there have been more massive casualties, etc., elsewhere, the area can still be considered as little else but volitile.), the side America chooses is nowhere more important, as it brings a huge amount of forceful and humanitarian aid, as well as the politics of the conflict to center stage.
So, I get his point, and it's a good one, but I think that leaving out a debate on American prominence in the international community (good OR bad) is a mistake. Further, I feel like he is presenting the difference between concerns of political elites and the common man as something revolutionary where it is really anything but. The average man on the street is not concerned primarily with abortion rights or gun control...they worry about their homes and families and personal interests first, and will 9 times out of 10 say so.
Submitted by Jeanneee (user info) at 2004-12-09 10:44:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd love to contribute, but unfortunately I know less than nothing about international relations. Here, have this +2.